1986 Ridge, Petite Sirah, York Creek, Devils Hill, Napa

Medium garnet and brownish around the rim. Expansive nose of strawberry and raspberry with hints of pepper. Forward raspberry and strawberry fruit flavors, medium acid, soft tannins, and a long fruity finish. This is a marvelous, mature Petite Sirah that still has good fruit and structure. It is very enjoyable. When the bottle was first opened, the fruit seemed a little thin and there was a hint of oxidation on the palette, but after a minute that blew off, and the fruit opened up making this a lovely, very enjoyable wine. My rating 90.

Devils Hill was a Ridge Advance Tasting Program wine, and differs from the regular York Creek Petite Sirah. Ridge made an ATP wine from the old vines in the Devils Hill vineyard through at least 1989. After that the yield was too low and the old vines were replaced with younger vines. The label indicates that 30 barrels were produced.